Vladimir Putin was unexpectedly named prime minister 18 years ago this week. In Republic.ru, Giorgi Golosov, a professor at the European University of St. Petersburg, looks at the meaning ofPutin’s long rule.

A Leftist Walks Free

In his column for Republic.ru, Oleg Kashin looks at what we can expectfrom leftist opposition figure Sergei Udaltsov following his release from prison.

Ukraine And North Korea’s Missiles

The New York Times has a piece by William Broad and David Sanger linking North Korea’s missile successto possible black market purchases from a Ukrainian plant with long-standing ties to Russia’s defense industry.

Slouching Toward A Systemic Crisis?

Philip Zelikow, a history professor at the University of Virginia and a former executive director of the 9/11 Commission, has a piece in The Atlantic asking: Is The World Slouching Toward A Grave Systemic Crisis?The piece is based on the text of Zelikow’s keynote address at the annual meeting of the Aspen Strategy Group.